Who goes there?

[thespaceopera]

[After weeks of relative silence, our intrepid passengers finally travel within visual range of a blue planet. Marsiva's slow-and-steady course makes it clear that this is the Drift Fleet's next destination--but just as your ships come within scanning range and your computers begin to gather data, a fleet of quick little watchdog ships zip out of the planet's atmosphere, heading straight for you!

They do not swoop in for an attack, but hold their positions between you and the planet. They look close enough to cause some trouble, and any working Communications Officer can tell you that they have weapons locked on the Fleet in warning.

The tell-tale sound of an incoming hailing frequency chimes over your ship's alert system. Someone would like you to pick up the phone. Thanks to their augment, all passengers instinctively know that they'll be looking for the Captain or the Communications Officer of the ship--but no one says someone else can't pick it up first.

On the bridge, the hailing frequency can be viewed on screen, along with the attached subject: "Identify yourselves." The notification chime goes off every seven seconds. These ships don't look like they're going anywhere, but they don't want to be kept waiting, either.

What do you do? Will you accept the frequency?]


ooc → see the July Star System post for details about this event! there is no real rush in this post (we won't even be around to begin responding to it until Sunday afternoon), so take your time, feel free to tag each other in this post (maybe try to get your Comms officers off their asses), and there is no time too late to tag into this post. the element of urgency is all IC, and there is no OOC pressure at all.

Comments

[thespaceopera]

[oh, there's... another pause after that. for several long moments, the watchdogs just hang there in space, in silence. perhaps they're speaking on separate channels in the meantime.

and when she comes back, her voice is full of flat skepticism.]

...Could you run that by me again, Captain?

[TV show, huh?]

[alwayscomeback]

[That isn't a good tone. ]

...That would be a no on hearing about Drift Fleet, then.

Look, it's really complicated and really annoying and we're effectively prisoners, but just know that we've got no intention of hurting anyone. We're just travelling the stars, hoping one day we can get home. All we need is supplies from you, we're running low, once we got them, we'll be on our way.

[thespaceopera]

You claim to be prisoners?

[she might not be buying this story either.]

Is the Nunnilis ship being held prisoner as well?

[alwayscomeback]

Not claiming, flat out stating.

The Nu-

Oh, you mean the bug ship? [He gives an annoyed sound. He KNEW that thing would give them trouble. ]

We found that, and some of members of the Fleet decided it was a good idea to pull it along. It's completely empty, there's no one aboard to take prisoner.

[He leaves out the 'not anymore' part, just in case they decide that's a declaration of war or something. ]

[thespaceopera]

[he is just winning points left and right. now, along with her skepticism, there's a healthy dose of quiet anger brewing.]

The Nunnilis never simply abandon their ships, Captain.

[alwayscomeback]

[Oh, that anger is not a good thing.]

It wasn't abandoned. It had the bu- Nunnilis inside. They were infected with some kind of fungus. From what I understand, our Fleet tried to find a cure, but couldn't, and none of the Nunnilis...es survived. My First Mate was around for that, and can give you a full briefing if you want it. The ship's empty, all the same.

I take it you know who it belongs to? Because I'm all for handing it back to its people.

[He doesn't want that thing anywhere near them. No siree. ]

[thespaceopera]

A briefing, yes. [hurriedly agreeing-- eager for some real information about this newest development, but maybe also interested in talking to someone else on the ship.]

We want any information you can give us.

[alwayscomeback]

Okay, I'll hand him over. You can trust that anything he tells you is completely accurate.

[Hey First Mate, he's waving to you while you stand there, uncomfortable because no chair for you ]

[save_the_souls]

[ Well, at least it's audio only, so he'll be leaning against the captain chair. Ugh getting a chair next planet if it's the last thing he does. ]

[But! He's been listening to the conversation (sometimes wincing when Sokka's been too...well, Sokka), so he gives Sokka a nod and jump in after clearing his throat]

This is First Mate Allen Walker speaking. I'm sorry we couldn't have met under better circumstances, but I'll answer any questions you have about our encounter with the Iskaulit.

[thespaceopera]

Explain the situation. In your own words.

[maybe a little too much emphasis on that second point.]

1/2

[save_the_souls]

Of course.

[ Right. Straight to the point then. Thanks for making them warm up to us Sokka. He takes a bit of a breath before he begins. Fortunately, his time at the Order made him more than experienced at giving mission reports]

Like my Captain was attempting to explain, we're a migrant fleet. The SS Marsiva plots the ultimate course- though it doesn't do much beyond that.

Early in June, the fleet received a distress signal from the Iskaulit, in a rather empty sector of space. We decided to investigate the signal, and found the ship floating adrift. Scanners picked up lifesigns, but no one was responding to our hails.

So, we sent people to board the ship to investigate. We were immediately attacked by a group of Nunnilis. After fending them off, we investigated the ship to find that the entire crew seemed to be working as...mindless drones. Half of them were working on the ship, and wouldn't even respond to our presence unless it directly got in the way of whatever task they were doing. And the other half wandered the ship in patrol groups- attacking any non-Nunnilis in a mindless fashion.

None of us in the fleet had encountered the Nunnilis before, so initially, we weren't sure what to make of this. Our doctor however, Dr. Crusher, noticed an inconsistency between their evolved neurological systems and their present simplistic behaviours. She along with Dr. Bashir, Dr. Keller, Medical-Nin Yamanaka and several others investigated and discovered that the Nunnilis's nervous systems had been infected with a fungus. This fungus takes hold of the nervous system, erodes it away, and hijacks it for its own purposes. This fungus spread through airborne transmissions- somehow it was had grown on the Iskaulit's air filters.

The doctors did their best to develop a cure to treat the infection. They found a way to remove it, but unfortunately the infection in the crew was far too advanced for them to survive the treatment. So...I, as acting captain, choose that the most merciful option was to euthanize the crew- which we did.

Afterwards we sanitized the ship, removed any fungal spores, and cremated the crew. We made sure to pay respect to the deceased by giving funeral rites- though I'm afraid we don't know anything about Nunnilis culture so we had to make due with the customs known in the fleet. It was then agreed to bring the ship along with us, in hopes of returning it to the people it belonged to instead of leaving it to scavengers.

[save_the_souls]

[He pauses after saying that, his tone becoming a bit more solemn than business like.]

Your planet's coordinates was in their ship's databanks, and you seem to recognise the ship...so your people knew them, didn't you? So...I'm deeply sorry for the loss of the Iskaulit.

If there's anything we can do to help, I know many in the fleet would be more than happy to help. If you rather we didn't stay, we can leave. Or...

If you require a person to held at fault for the loss of the Iskaulit crew, then as the person who made the choice of what to do with the crew, I'll take full responsibility.

[ Sure, technically it was a joint decision. Still...he had been a strong supporter of it, and had been the acting captain. It made sense he turn himself in as responsible. ]

Here for visual purposes

[alwayscomeback]

[Allen. ALLEN NO.]

[thespaceopera]

[while the woman was terse and frustrated before, she (and whoever else is listening) stay quiet as the explanation goes on. after Allen finishes speaking, the silence stretches on... so long that one might start to think that they'd disappeared.

when she finally responds, she sounds a little... shaken.]

We should-- We will discuss this with our superiors. Blue Fish, please hold.

[save_the_souls]

[The silence after he finishes speaking is unnerving. On the other hand, it beats yelling and weapon fire. When she speaks again, it does little to ease the nerves. But not much he can do about that.]

Understood.

[When it sounds like he's been put on hold, he'll give a nervous smile to his crew. YOU THINK IT WORKED GUYS???]

[alwayscomeback]

Well, that went great right up until you offered yourself up as a sacrifice. I'm less thrilled with that part.

[save_the_souls]

Well, they have a lot of guns pointing at us. I thought they might be more lenient if someone's willing to take responsibility...

[forcemageure]

That was very noble of you, Allen.

[ Hawke intones solemnly. ]

The next time we have to negotiate anything you're going in a bag.

[ So you don't do things like that. ]

[bolder]

What is wrong with everyone on this ship?! [Toph thows her hands up in exasperation.] I mean, really! Just ask if they're hungry and want some yummy humans with a side of dumb!

[save_the_souls]

[GEE THANKS HAWKE]

Hey, come on. I'm sure they don't eat people.

[destinyembrace]

[Such a diplomat, Allen. Kairi is beaming... until the last bit.

Then no, no more smiles. Just...]

Allen.

[That? That sounds suspiciously like anger. Because it is. Kairi is preeeeeetty mad right now.]

[alwayscomeback]

[Oh man, Kairi is gonna murder him.]

We can't afford to lose you, and we really don't want to have them call our bluff.

[thespaceopera]

[hopefully, this doesn't interrupt the Blue Fish's touching friendship moment... but eventually, the frequency goes live again. another woman, probably middle-aged and thankfully much more level-headed, addresses them.]

Thank you, Mr. Walker, for your report. We hope that this will come to nothing as drastic as removing you from your crew, however.

The Nunnilis are one of two races that live on the planet your Fleet is approaching. Given this, I need documentation on the status of your ship to allow you legal docking clearance. I would also ask that you send any data you may have collected from the merchant ship.

From there, we will decide how to proceed.

[save_the_souls]

[ Don't worry, I'm sure it was all conveniently timed. Somehow ]

[There's a slight delay before Allen is the one that answers. As if maybe they spent that time deciding Sokka shouldn't talk to the aliens anymore....]

Thank you. [You know, for wanting to listen and not sounding like they want to jail him. That's a relief!]

We'll send the ship's documentation now. [Which he'll be doing that as he speaks. Or someone's doing it. Whatever.] As for data about the merchant ship, it'll take us a bit to compile everything, but we'll send what we can. Stand by please.

[He puts the comm link on hold and glances at the crew. Considering he just got yelled at for this five minutes ago, he's listening to the crew's opinion this time ]

What do we have to send them?

[thespaceopera]

Acknowledged.

[for however long it takes, the ship will be standing by.]